Boys Track Recap - PTFCA Indoor State Championships
Sprints/Hurdles
Sunday was a huge day for Houston commit Jaden Brown. The Norristown senior had a legendary day in the sprints, putting down a pair of major PRs and burst onto the national spotlight.
Brown rolled to the victory in the 60 meters. In the semifinal round, he broke the state meet record with a 6.72 to qualify through to the finals. That time is PA#2 all-time and a current US#5. He came back in the finals to run 6.74 and take the state title. Michael Fellin of Marian Catholic took second in a season best 6.84.
Brown returned in the 200 meters. He wasn't in the top section, but that didn't matter. He claimed his second state title of the day, running 21.36 for a runaway win. That time is PA#5 all-time and a current US#7. He'll surely be one to watch this coming outdoor season, as he looks to defend his 100m state crown in AAA.
Southern Columbia's Jake Rose took the top spot in the 60 meter hurdles, following up on his AA 110m hurdle win from last spring. Rose navigated the rounds well before running his fastest time of the day -- a 7.96 -- in the finals to take the state win. Harrisburg's Demaris Waters, who went 7.99 in the prelims, was second.
Manheim Township's Darren Cammauf came out on top in the 400 meters in what was one of the day's most exciting events. Cammauf made a pass on the inside lane in the final stretch to take the victory over North Penn's Devin Nugent and Butler's Guinness Brown, going from third to first in the final 50 meters. Cammauf ran 48.81 for the win, while Nugent was second and Brown was third.
Distance
The boys mile lived up to the hype as Archbishop Wood's Gary Martin and Butler's CJ Singleton ran the two fastest indoor miles in Pennsylvania state history. Martin controlled the pace for much of the race, but with 400 to go, Singleton, the underdog, made his move to the lead. Martin answered back right as the two took the bell lap, and extended his lead to take the win.
Martin broke his own state record, running 4:04.59 for the state title (a current US#5, too). Singleton went PA#2 all-time with a 4:06.60 (US#7) for take silver. Read more about the historic boys' mile here.
Moon Area's Jacob Puhalla dominated the 800 meters. He took the race out from the gun and rolled from there, putting down a new PR of 1:52.51. He was by about a second and a half and moved up to US#5 with that effort.
The boys 3K was among the day's most wide open events, and the race delivered as one of the day's most exciting. With two laps to go, the race had become a three man race between North Allegheny's Scott Nalepa, Hatboro Horsham's Brian DiCola, and North Pocono's Caleb Kenyon. Nalepa made his move to the front with two to go. DiCola answered and then threw down a huge last lap to take the win in 8:35.29. DiCola's last 200 was split at 27.94.
Relays
State College Area won the 2020 state title in the 4x800m relay, and the Little Lions followed up that win with a state title on Sunday. SC went 7:58.69 for the victory in what became a runaway victory. They became the only PA team so far this winter to go sub-8 minutes in the event.
The Butler boys came out on top in the DMR, scoring big points in the team race. The Golden Tornado made big moves throughout the race, and got a 4:13 anchor leg from Singleton to earn the win in 10:25.62. LaSalle College was second in 10:30.25, and Archbishop Wood went from 11th to third behind a 4:11 anchor leg from Martin.
Episcopal Academy won a thriller in the 4x200m relay. In a race that saw the lead exchange hands a number of times, Episcopal stayed in contention to whole time and broke the race open late to grab the win in 1:30.32, matching the PA#1 time this season. Butler took second in 1:31.22.
North Penn closed out the meet with a victory in the 4x400m relay. The Knights took the lead on the second leg and didn't look back from there, leading until the finish. Nugent, the anchor leg, split a 48.69 to bring it home for North Penn.